Myles Jack impressed Steelers didn't sound 'fire alarms' after 2-6 start, credits Mike Tomlin for turnaround

Before Myles Jack joined the Pittsburgh Steelers this year, he was probably best known around these parts for helping the Jacksonville Jaguars to an upset win in the 2017 AFC divisional playoffs.

His interception in the first quarter led to a touchdown that helped the Jaguars take a 14-point lead en route to a 45-42 win that shocked the Steelers.

Aside from that season, when the Jaguars finished 10-6, Jack never experienced a winning record in his six years in Jacksonville. In those five other seasons, the Jaguars were a combined 18-63, including a 4-29 stretch in 2020 and ’21.

So when he signed with the Steelers in the offseason and they got off to a 2-6 start, Jack couldn’t help but get a case of déjà vu.

“Are they going to start ringing the fire alarms around here?” Jack said Thursday.

He got his answer during the bye week, he said, when coach Mike Tomlin didn’t alter the approach he took in the first half and has continued into January, with the Steelers taking an 8-8 record into the regular-season finale.

“Even when it was 2-6, there was no panic,” Jack said. “I’ve been in other places where the house is on fire, everybody is about to lose their job, mortgages are at stake. Here, it was just, ‘Let’s continue to get better and see what is going on.’

“I give it up to Coach T and how he’s conducted things. He’s been the same whether we win or lose.”

Lately, Jack has been on rare winning side of the equation as the Steelers have gone 6-2 since the bye while winning four of their past five and three in a row heading into Sunday’s matchup against the Cleveland Browns.

“Everything has been smooth,” said Jack, who has been slowed by a groin injury. “We were working hard and not putting our heads down. When we won, we didn’t say much. When we lost, we worked even harder. He’s got the right formula, and I think that’s the reason we came back.”

Jack could reach the postseason for the second time in his career if the Steelers beat the Browns and get help from New England and the New York Jets. Even if they don’t make it, Jack still could finish the year with his team winning more games than they lose.

“To show the resilience and fight to get back to 8-8, I think that is something to be proud of,” Jack said, “but at the end of the day, we still feel like we’re going to the playoffs next week and will keep playing. However it shakes, it shakes. We’re playing like we’ve got a wild-card game pretty soon.”

Coincidentally, the team that cut Jack in the offseason has fared pretty well, too. The Jaguars also have reached .500 after a 2-6 start and are playing for a division title this weekend.